C.O. (Carl) Johnson is born in Finspong, Sweden. In 1909, Carl he is chosen by his family to travel to America, make good, and eventually bring his brothers and sisters over to start a new life. He is just 17 years old at the time.

Carl starts the business by building homes.

C.O. Johnson – Builders and Constructors is hired to build the new Glendale Library.

Lee joins his dad in the business and things really begin to take off for the family business.

In 1951, C.O. Johnson builds mining operation office buildings and warehouses in the Bagdad mine.

In 1964, Carl decides to officially retire and son Lee Johnson takes full reigns of the company.

Following in the footsteps of his father’s secession, Lee Johnson decides to retire and sells the company to his son, Chris Johnson.

As the industry continues to transform, Chris partners with Mr. Gene Carlier and herein Johnson Carlier (now Big-D Southwest) is established.

After years of prosperity and partnership, Gene Carlier retires. Around the same time, design of a new home base for JC also begins.

ALSO THIS YEAR
Big-D Southwest builds their new corporate office in Tempe.
Cost of a gallon of gas elevates to $1.26.

This partnership expands the company’s ability to grow with clients, increased technology offerings and adding an additional layer of financial strength.

Big-D Construction makes several organizational changes to facilitate industry advancement overall. Rob Moore is promoted to Chief Executive Officer. Forrest McNabb is promoted to President of the Mountain West Group.

As Big-D’s brand expands, Cory Moore is promoted to Executive Vice President and National Managing Director of Big-D’s regional offices. Troy Thompson joins Big-D as Executive Vice President. The two are tasked with expanding Big-D’s national footprint while supporting its seven regional offices.

Big-D is also named “Contractor of the Year” by the Utah Chapter of CCIM.

On November 2, 2017, Big-D Construction celebrates its 50-year anniversary. As part of the celebration, Big-D releases a book commemorating its 50-year tenure in the construction business.

Big-D Construction makes strategic changes to its executive leadership team. Cory Moore is named National President of Big-D Construction’s global family of companies. Troy Thompson is named Executive Vice President & Chief Operations Officer (COO) of Big-D. Rob Moore continues to lead as the firm’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO).

The Top Performers are ranked by size based on the number of hours worked in 2017, as reported in their 2018 STEP applications. To be eligible, Big-D demonstrates world-class safety performance measures that align with ABC’s STEP safety management system.

“ABC Top Performers are leading the way in the merit shop construction industry, where diverse participants are constantly striving to achieve the highest levels of personal and company performance in an environment of fair and open competition,” says Michael Bellaman, president and chief executive officer of ABC. “These rankings will help the industry identify contractors like Big-D Construction that have achieved world-class safety performance, demonstrated their commitment to their workers and their communities and earned recognition for project excellence and diversity.”

As customers are becoming more environmentally aware, the push for green design and building concepts is increasing. Big-D implements ecofriendly practices to reduce our carbon footprint. These efforts are recognized and helps jump the company 5 spots on the ENR Top Green Contractor List.

Rankings are based on revenue from construction or design services generated in 2018 from projects that have been registered with or certified by the facility’s environmental impact, energy efficiency or carbon footprint.

The Big-D Family of Companies is building a better tomorrow!

Inc. Magazine recognizes Big-D Construction for the first time on their 2019 Inc. 5000 Most Successful Companies in America list, the most prestigious ranking of the nation’s fastest-growing privately held companies. Big-D Construction is honored to be the only commercial construction company in Utah to make the list and ranked #232 among the honorees in the construction field across the nation. This is truly a defining moment for the company!

The 2019 Inc. 5000 list is ranked according to the percentage of revenue growth from 2015 to 2018. Big-D’s steady 3-year revenue growth rate was 58%.

On February 14, 1912, Arizona became the 48th State in the union. Less than a decade later, Johnson Carlier was founded. For over a century Johnson Carlier has been building in Arizona and beyond. We are ‘people building for people’.

in January, 2022 Cory Moore is named Chief Executive Officer. Previous CEO, Rob Moore, remains an influential leader as the company’s Executive Chairman.

“This is a significant announcement for our company and future. We have worked on our succession planning over the last decade and this strategic move is part of that plan and is a major step in realizing our goals,” says Rob Moore.

In a unanimous decision by the Big-D Companies Board of Directors, Cory will take global responsibility for its 14 offices nationwide. His job will ensure Big-D and it’s subsidiaries continue to preserve the mission of being the most sought after by associates and customers alike. He will also continue to stimulate progress and drive Big-D companies’ vision of growth and investment in the future.

“Our industry is experiencing extraordinary growth and this change allows us to expand our services under one name with one mission – to be the most sought-after construction company in the business,” said Sr. Vice President/Managing Director Carl McFarland who will head the Southwest regional office.